Chilli eating contest really puts heat on (+pics, video)

Josh Shotter (right) won the sixth heat of New Zealand Chilli Eating Championships and is congratulated by Fire Dragon Chillies director Clint Meyer. Photo/Ben Fraser

Rotorua was heating up on Saturday when 14 men and women took chilli eating to the limits at Brew Bar.

Local man Josh Shotter came out on top at the sixth heat of the New Zealand Chilli Eating Championships.

Mr Shotter will head up to Auckland on July 18 for the finals, representing Rotorua and Brew Bar.

Image 1 of 8: Fire Dragon Chillies New Zealand Chilli Eating Champs held at Rotoruas Brew Bar on Saturday

It was the first time he had entered in a competition like this, he said.

"I had a good feeling about winning, I know I can handle my chillies. I have had a few competitions just with mates and that, and usually win." Mr Shotter said he found out about the competition on the day and thought it would be a good idea to enter.

The competition was hosted by Fire Dragon Chillies.

Director Clint Meyer was impressed with Rotorua's chilli eaters.

"We are in the fifth year. It started off as a bit of fun, now we've got a few competitive chilli eaters around the place and we thought we would go to Rotorua this year," he said.

"There was a good multicultural mix of young and old. A Kiwi was first, a Chilean was second and an Englishman was third. The winner could have kept going a couple more chillies, it was good competition."

He said Mr Shotter would be eating chillies twice as hot as those in the heats during the national finals.

"There is a cash prize in the final but it's a bit of a glory thing. There are also bar tabs and chilli sauces up for grabs."

Second-placed Marcelo Sanzana, who is originally from Chile, said he was feeling fine.

"I eat chillies all the time but it's okay, I feel okay," he said yesterday.